I promised you snow and knitting and here they are! The pattern I used is the Braided Hood Tunic from Interweave Knits Spring 2010, and the only change was that I crocheted the edging around the hood and arm holes.

And I'm so happy with it! I've worn it three times already and I finished it less than a week ago. It's nice and warm, and the hood feels very elvin, like I belong in Middle Earth when it's on. My Ravelry page (for knitters and crocheters) on it can be found here.

Have a great week!

Love, Clara

Yes Please

I am happy to say that is what several of my days these past weeks have looked like. Tea and Tolkien, a wonderful combination. Only improved upon with lots of sewing. Yes, that's right, I've finally made some sewing progress! And I've finally photographed said progress! And I'm finally posting about it too! Wow.

And first up is my camera case. I wish I could show it to you with the camera in it, but... yeah. I got all of the materials at Joann's when I worked there last year, the button and the batting were on clearance and the fabric and the burlap were both remnants. So the whole project was very thrifty, costing me hardly anything and slightly denting my stash.
The buttonhole was the first one I've ever done on my new (as of last year) machine, so that was a little nerve wracking. I'm not extremely confided when it comes to button holes, I usually feel like I'd rather do them by hand, which is completely crazy, I know, but true. You see, before I was allowed to learn to use the sewing machine, my mom made me learn to sew by hand. I'm really glad she decided to teach me that way, but I blame her for the fact that even though I've been using the machine for 12+ years, I'm more at home with just a good ol' needle and thread.

And last, yet not completed, a blouse I'm working on. It's from a vintage pattern, that I'm finding I love. I'm making two of them at the moment, and they're both going to be sleeveless because I didn't have enough fabric for the sleeves. I don't mind though because it's perfect for layering that way, and also the summer. I've been planning to make them for around three years now, maybe even four. It's a good thing my tastes don't really change.

The snow has come, and I think it's going to stay. The trees are quite coated with their first layer of frosting and all but the roads are white. May you all have a lovely week!

Best wishes,

Clara

Cranberries

Last week I was stir crazy to an extreme, I couldn't focus on anything and was frustrated, but I had no clue why. And then it hit me; all summer long I've been outside for at least four days a week, until work ended, and since I've hardly been outdoors or anywhere in almost three weeks. No wonder I'm loosing it! I needed to get outside. Now, I've gone blueberry picking with my family almost every summer for the past ten or eleven years, and every time we see the cranberries that aren't quite ripe yet among the blueberries, and I always want to come back later to pick them, but never have until now.

(photos are mine)

Thankfully it worked out for me to take my dad's truck and drive out that very afternoon. I was only out there about three hours and I didn't get many berries, but it was amazing. Being out alone on the hill, with just the wind and the silence gathering the last of summer's jewels for the winter was exactly what I needed. And I think I learned my lesson about how long this country mouse should stay inside.

Oh and happy October!

Love, Clara

autumn

While the calender states that yesterday was the first day of fall I'd say it's been going on for over three weeks here in my part of Alaska. These photos were taken driving home from my last day of work, which was two weeks ago today. It's been beautiful, and I'm holding on to that it'll last a bit longer.

I've been doing a whole lot of knitting which I hope to show you soon, few projects have gotten finished (I keep running out of yarn right at the end!), but last night I managed to complete some sweet fingerless mitts which I'm quite excited about. It's been good to just stay home and exist. Sometimes I feel that I get too busy and forget to do that. This summer was wonderful though and I'm really looking forward to this next March when the whole greenhouse process will start again, but I'm also looking forward to the months ahead. God is so good and I am excited to see what he has in store.

Love to you all! I'll be back soon!

Clara

PS: oh yes, all photos are mine, please don't steal them, and I DID take them while I was driving, which is a very bad idea, please don't try it. No one got hurt and I actually stayed on the road, but I don't plan on doing it again. Good thing I've broken that habit BEFORE the roads get icy. Okay, now I'm done.

my cave

I figured it was about time I showed you my new room. When I moved back home at the end of January I got to upgrade to a larger room (my parents old room, there was a lot of switching around), for the most part size was the only upgrade that took place... it's very dark so I'm not sure I can ever promise good pictures of most of it.
It's taken some time, but I'm actually getting attached to it. I still miss my old room a lot, but my little gypsy cave has become a nice little sanctuary over this time. I've hung stars above my bed, as I hope you can tell from the photo above. They're glittering for me quite beautifully right now, I think they like the dim light, it lets them shine better.

And I've got my snowflakes above my dresser as well. (sorry for the mess, I have cleaned it since these photos. mostly.) It's a basement bedroom (yes. I live in my parents basement... bring on the bad jokes. *eye roll*) which takes a lot of adjusting from the amazing south-facing window I had a year ago, but I think I'll do fine, having stocked up on my vitamin D as much as possible at the greenhouse.

Also, the last couple of times I've been thrifting I've been able to stock up on fabric! The prices are so much better than anywhere else, one piece cost me two dollars and the rest were only a dollar each, that's the way to sew if you ask me. That's all for now, hope you are having a lovely September, I'll show you what mine is looking like outside here real soon.

Love to you all!

Clara

concerning compainions

I've been feeling a little lonely of late... dreaming of waifs and their wild friends. Thinking how much I would like a pet, of almost any sort. So, I made a list.

I'll tell you a few of my wishes here though. A wolf for one, protector, friend, loyal and trusting.

A lamb might be nice, but I think I'd prefer a little rabbit (softest, you see) or a goose (I'd let her keep her eggs).

I've always wanted an elephant, trunk caresses sounds strangely wonderful, I think. And then an owl too, for lonely nights and those times when I need a bit of confusing wisdom.
(all photos can be found in my weheartit)

I had a wonderful weekend, full of healing and worship at church. It's so exciting to see all that God's doing.

Blessings and love to you all,

Clara

veronica

veronica, waterperry


foxglove, camelot mix

Just some photos from work, being forced to be outside, rain or shine, has in a small way saved me this summer. Most people here have talked about it being such a rainy summer, but I can't say that it's been that way for me, it's rained a fair amount, but there have been so many sunny days too. And I will never complain about driving into the misty hills in the morning, few things are so inspiring as the mist. I hope you all have and still are, enjoying your summers.

Much love,

Clara

(photos were taken by me)